Camera-Online-Store - Brands - Apple Masterpieces

Expose for instant access to any window; displays all open or current-application windows
FileVault for keeping your valuable documents safe with powerful AES-128 bit encryption
Super-modern operating system combining the strength of UNIX with the elegance of Macintosh
Over 150 new features and significant enhancements to its modern, UNIX-based foundation
iChat AV for personal video conferencing in high-quality, full-screen video over the Internet

Reviews (71)

Extremely stable and elegant (except for that dock)
First, I wouldlike to state that I have used Macintoshes since May 1986 and would rather own an old, slow, second-hand Mac than have to grapple with any version of Windows, including XP. There's absolutely no reason for anyone who can't afford a new Mac to switch to a PC.

I have installed Panther (10.3.2) on two computers, my own B&W that now sports an Encore 1 GHz G4 processor, and my husband's 733 MHz Quicksilver, and we had no problems--not until we started downloading Apple's updates. The 10.3.9 combination update seemed to make both machines slow down. I have no idea how badly it has affected the Quicksilver (with 512 MB RAM) because I don't get to use it enough (I just get to do all the "techie" stuff on it *G*) but the slowness of the B&W (with 364 MB RAM) has become unbearable and I think I need to return to 10.3.2. Or maybe I should try more RAM first. :-(

I don't understand why some people have had trouble with OS X. Now, if I can install Panther on a machine with a bus as slow as the B&W, and a processor that isn't even supported by Apple, why are others having trouble on newer, faster machines? All I did was put the CD in the DVD or CD rewriter, hit the install button, let the machine restart from the CD, reformat the hard drive with OS X's Disk Utility, start the install and leave the installer to do its work. What could be easier?

First impressions, coming straight to Panther from OS 9, weren't entirely favourable. After all, OS 9 wasn't considered the best OS of its time for nothing! And it was so much better with Action Utilities, just as OS 7.6 (another great Mac OS) was better with Now Utilities.

My gripes:

1. I miss the ability to configure the apple menu the way I want it. I especially miss the way Action Utilities allowed me to navigate anywhere on my hard drive from this menu. Bring back a user-configurable apple menu, please, Apple! (Power-on Software confirmed that they will not be releasing an OS X version of AU.)

2. I miss the Action Utilities user-configurable short cuts--especially the ones that allowed me to open an application or switch between applications: e.g., control-p to open or switch to Photoshop, control-shift-p for PageMaker, control-q for Quicken, control-a for Acrobat. The command-tab feature (which was also part of OS 9) just isn't as fast. As for clicking on an alias in the dock, that's way too slow! It's tidier than clicking on aliases on the desktop, but that's about all. There ARE keyboard shortcuts in Panther, but they allow the user only to change the shortcuts of menu items that already have shortcuts. How about allowing us to make short cuts for ANYTHING, Apple? Please! I have no idea why this feature wasn't incorporated into the Mac OS long ago. If a third-party developer can do it, surely Apple can.

3. At first I had trouble coping with the way windows open on the desktop. It gave me a peculiar sense of claustrophobia. Yes I know: very strange! However, once I asked for column display I soon got used to this feature. It's actually very nifty if you have more than one hard disk, or several partitions.

4. I didn't like the dock at all. After several months of using Panther I still don't care for it. Action Utilities had a similar, though much plainer, feature, and I didn't like that either. I would have asked for it to be hidden all the time but for its calendar, which I found mildly useful. I can see the point of the dock for newcomers to the Macintosh environment (particularly those who are also first-time computer users) and for this reason I wouldn't want Apple to get rid of it. I know I can hide it, but what's the point? It merely makes opening a new application far too time-consuming. If Apple would only provide user-configurable short cuts to open/switch between applications, or a user-configurable apple menu--preferably both--those of us who don't like taking our fingers off the keys just to open a new application could keep the dock hidden all the time.

5. It isn't easy to work out how OS X works, as it was with OS 9 and its predecessors, which didn't have invisible files. I wish Apple would make all OS X's files visible. Why do some have to be invisible anyway?

6. Safari 1.3 quits if I hit the close window button. This happens on both my B&W and the Quicksilver. Just as well it's not working in OS 9 because at least I don't have to restart my machine.

7. Old applications work noticeably slower in Classic than when our machines are booted in OS 9. This probably has more to do with the machines than with Panther. In some cases it might also be the sheer age of the software (made for pre-Power PC processors).

The good things:

1. Panther is so stable. While OS 9 and its predecessors didn't crash anywhere near as often (or as badly) as their Windows equivalents, I haven't had Panther crash at all.

2. It's good to be able to use all my old software. Even Word 5.1 (from 1992) and Quicken 5 (1994) work in Classic.

3. There's no doubt that Panther's interface is very elegant (the dock notwithstanding).

4. TextEdit is head, shoulders and even more above Simpletext. It's virtually a word processing program. I suspect the version shipping with Tiger is even more so.

5. I love being able to get my Mac to tell me the time on the hour. I desperately needed something more able to catch my attention than a mere sound, which I soon found my brain was all too capable of stopping my ears from hearing! But it's very hard to ignore a voice.

6. Mail is fantastic, though it took me a little while to get used to after so many years of Outlook Express. The only feature I miss from OE is the name and email address of the sender and the size of the incoming email (in the Activities window).

7. The iLife suite of applications is awesome--extremely good value-for-money, especially if you are a keen photographer and want a decent application (iPhoto) for displaying photos and even fixing faults in them, are into making your own movies, transferring ones you already have on tape onto DVDs (iMovie and iDVD), creating your own music (GarageBand), downloading music from the iTunes store (or anywhere else) or even just turning your own CDs into MP3s for your iPod (iTunes).

Should you upgrade to Panther? Well, that depends. We probably did so before we were really ready, but my husband wanted to transfer his video tapes onto DVD and I tend to be a download freak. I will download trials of almost anything (that's how I landed up buying Action Utilities) and it's been absolutely ages since there was anything new to try in OS 9. If, however, you find you absolutely need to update many of your oft-used pieces of software, you might as well take the plunge. Mind you, now that Tiger is out you'd probably be best going straight to that.

Hate it
This is the worst os ive ever used you can't hold down the button like windows and its exteremly hard to use you also cant get games for it

Tiger Instead - New Mac - New Operating System
I guess if you needed Panther now you would buy it, but if you're not in a hurry, pre-order the Tiger Operating System (Available April 29th).It may even be cheaper than Panther, currently at $149CDN.

I got Panther with my new iMac, and I like it, but Tiger has a few features I would use every day:
1. Widgets - I played with Konfabulator and loved it.
2. Spotlight - will really simplify finding old docs, emails, etc.
3. QuickTime 7 - I'm a big fan and can't wait to see the improvements.
4. TextEdit - there are some new improvements that I've been waiting for sometime, including saving documents in HTML format.

Looking back and comparing it to my old machine with the Jaguar Operating System, the things that made a big impression were not necessarily to do with Pather improvements, I think it was more to dow with the new iMac itself and the prepackaged software.With Tiger, I can see there's lots for me take advantage of. ... Read more

Asin: B0000E6NK9
Sales Rank: 103
Subjects: 1. Computer software (programs) 2. Operating Systems System (OS) 3. Mac Macintosh Apple iMac MACOS 4. Apple 5. (Mac) 6. (Macintosh)

Apple Power Mac G5 Desktop M9032LL/A (Dual 2.0-GHz PowerPC G5, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD-R/CD-RW Drive)
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Personal Computers
list price: $2,494.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: June 2003 The world's fastest personal computer and the first with a 64-bit processor -- which means it breaks the 4 GB barrier and can use up to 8 GB of main memory.

Hailed as the fastest personal computer ever released and featuring a truly remarkable set of technological breakthroughs, Apple's Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A is clearly designed for discriminating individuals who simply won't settle for anything less than the very best. For extreme performance and unrelenting power, this, the top of the line Power Mac G5 model, is as good as it gets.

Driven by not one but two 2 GHz Power PC G5 processors, 512 MB ultra-fast PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory per processor (expandable to a gargantuan 8 GB!), and an ATI RADEON 9600 Pro graphics card with 64 MB DDR SDRAM video memory, the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A certainly seems impressive. But those figures only begin to tell the story. For its latest desktop, Apple teamed with IBM to redesign its leading-edge CPU architecture. Accordingly, the new Power PC G5 is the world's first 64-bit processor. With two of these 2 GB powerhouses running in tandem -- each sporting an industry-leading 1 GHz frontside bus -- the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A delivers nearly double the throughout of a single 3 GHz Pentium 4-based machine and, according to Apple, runs standard Photoshop tests at 2.2 times the speed of a single 3 GHz Pentium.

But there's more than raw power lurking inside the futuristic anodized aluminum case. For starters, Apple has compartmentalized the unit into four independent sections to direct appropriate airflow to each key component. A total of nine fans work to keep things cool, yet all are extremely low-speed. Thusly the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A runs three times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4 enclosure.

Apple has loaded the unit with data handling features, including a monstrous 160 GB 7200 RPM hard disk and a DVD-R/CD-RW combo drive (4X DVD write speed) through which you can archive information, play and burn audio CDs, enjoy the latest movies and record home videos. To help you transfer data to and from external peripherals such as optical drives and digital camcorders and cameras, the system also sports two high-speed FireWire 400 ports, one ultra-fast FireWire 800 port, three USB 2.0 ports and two USB 1.1 ports.

Other key amenities include a convenient Apple Pro keyboard, an Apple Pro mouse, three available high-performance PCI-X slots for future expansion, and a broad array of multimedia and Internet software. Connectivity facilities include an integrated 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port, a built-in 56K modem, and AirPort Extreme wireless support (with an AirPort Extreme card). Speakers and display are available separately. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

I HAVE NO REGRETS!!!
PROS:
Amazing speed, and extremely quiet! I'm quite surprised that no one has yet given a review to this wonderful piece of equipment. I guess you don't need to. That statement about "you get what you pay for" is very true. But if you actually look at it, if I were to buy a top of the line dual AMD Opteron or Pentium Xeon system with the same basic configuration, I'd be spending about the same amount of money. And as a graphic designer, I almost went totally PC when I purchased a Pentium 2.8GHz HT (Hyper Threading - the so-called "multitasking" want a be Mac processor) for my wife. Well much to my dismay, I was using a demo of Adobe Photoshop CS to test the PCs' skills, only to find out that when I went to save a 160MBfile, that I only saved about 7 to 8 seconds of time compared to my 5 year old G4 (400MHz single processor) system. Mind you, they both had the same amount of RAM. That's when I remembered testing one of the machines at an Apple store a few months before I almost made that fatal decision to go PC. I saved a 250MB Photoshop file in about 9 seconds!!! Now, the new G5 that's out is the dual 2.5's. So that means the dual 2.0 machines are $500 less (now, $2,500.00). And if you're like me, and can take a couple of weeks to spend some dedicated time to finding a better price, you can actually save about a thousand or more buying it used. I did. I purchased a G5 dual 2.0GHz, 250MB HD, with 1.5GB of RAM and the extended Apple Care Warranty; the full three years was already included with the machine, for a total of $2,400.00. (...) I was a little scared, because I heard about some horror stories about people who got taken of there hard earn money not to get what they paid for. I even found out that the person who owned this G5 was only 115 miles away. So I picked it up myself. He even had it open so I could try it out first. (...)Then you will find out what the going rate is (and also know who the "scammers" are who are trying to take you for your money). Email as many people that seem to be reasonably priced and ask for three things that you have a right to know; 1) What there serial number is on the machine 2) Where they bought it along with the original receipt 3) Get the owners full name and then call Apple (800-275-2273), to get through to the Apple Care Dept. (from last I checked, ext. 3), verify if the G5 belongs to them and if it's still under warranty. Also, ask if there is an option to extend it to the full 3 years; you will have to pay an additional $249.00, but it's completely worth every penny. I know that I'm going off the "review" topic here, but I believe that it is just as important, because of the fact that these machines are not cheap, and they were not available to buy (because of backorder situations, even through Apple), and I know that people want to save as much as they can when purchasing this system (or one like it). But again, we're going back to the beginning of what I said; "you get what you pay for." Another thing to add about this G5, they designed this machine from the inside-out, not the other way around; like I see in some PC towers that are built. The way this system is cooled is simply incredible. I was just reading MaxiumPC's (Sept. '04) review on case towers that just came out, and still NOTHING can touch the way they built this tower. Please do yourself a favor, if you can, either go to an Apple Store, CompUSA, Best Buy to physically try out a 1.8, 2.0, 2.5GHz G5 yourself, or check out there website (www.apple.com). You'll get more information than I can give here in this review. Again, I want to let everyone know (who reads this), that if I sound bias at all, I'm not, I REALLY was about to switch over to a PC; even my close friends were shocked when I said it to them. I actually felt humbled at one point saying that statement. But I'm glad I didn't make that mistake. If you're looking for a workhorse, this is the machine for you; and I'm ONLY talking to GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, VIDEO PRODUCERS AND THE LIKE; NOT to those who play video games on these machines. If you're looking for a gaming machine, then buy a PC. You'll have more to choose from, with thousands of games and more options to making your PC work better with faster framerates by overclocking the processor and graphics card, (only if you're into that kind of stuff and that you know what you're doing - only if - you overclock your PC).
(...) If you do your homework on this, (Graphic Designers - G5 Mac and PC Gamers - OverdrivePC) in the end, it will be worth it! I hope I've been helpful and good fortune to all who read this.

CONS:
None that I know of. Except I would give it a 9 (out of 10) for ease of use, because I was very acclimated to using OS9. OSX takes a day or two of adjusting, but it is a far better operating system to use in the end.

This is a machine for professionals!
The G5 is meant to be "the professional's machine" for graphics and video.After you get past the "platform war reviews" on this list and look at the unitand what it can do, it does all it claims and more.Mac has and I hope always will dominate the digital video, audio and graphics markets.Anyone who cannot get this machine up and running out of the box in a few minutes, should probably invest in a toaster; because its obvious you were not meant to use a computer.The latest OS, Panther is sleek easy to use and pretty much runs the machine for you.Its also the only unix based OS on the market with a GUI.Which means that you can slip into terminal mode and run lines of code, while doing several other, heavy duty tasks in the background; that's background tasks that would bring any PC to its knees.By the way, Panther is the only system on the market that truly takes advantage of multi processors built into these boxes.

No matter what the semi pro's and novice users, who are loyal to PC's post, this machine simply blows any windows based/intel system out of the water.I have used every machine available for 25 + years as a film and video editor, (the toughest job for any machine) and Mac is the king of the hill for power, ease of use and reliable service..for the pro user PERIOD.Anyone who claims to work in a pro graphics shop that is PC based, really does not work in a pro shop; because there are no truly pro graphics shops that are PC based.

The price is as always a bit higher on a Mac, because you get what you pay for.If you are not a professional computer user, get a PC and you will be happy.If you are a professional that needs the fastest machines available, as well as the most reliable machines on the market, you need a Mac G5.

Video Card a Minor Problem at Best
I've been a PC user since the good old days of the soldering iron, my last mac was an old powerbook running OS 6 or 7, either way - it was a long time ago.The main thing thats been keeping me from getting a Mac was price, and I must say - it's getting a lot better.I bought the dual 2.0Ghz configuration from the apple store along with the new 20" LCD (that still hasn't shipped ~_~) and it rocks.The biggest problem people have mentioned on the various reviews is the 64mb card - if it means that much to you, go to the Apple Store on their site and configure your own system with a 9800 or an x800 or a different 9600 if you'd like.I got a 9800 personally.I don't understand how anyone can claim a PC runs faster than this, perhaps with video games but for standard use (this coming from a person to whome standard refers to compiling java) its much better. ... Read more

Asin: B0000A5R5M
Subjects: 1. Desktops (Desk Tops) 2. Desktop Computers 3. Apple 4. (Mac) 5. (Macintosh)

Apple PowerBook Notebook 17" M9110LL/A (1.33-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-R/CD-RW Drive)
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Personal Computers

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Faster and far more capable than any other Apple notebook to date, the freshly unveiled 17-inch PowerBook G4 may be the most sophisticated portable computer ever released. Featuring an enormous display, an unrivalled feature set and virtually no performance bottlenecks, the stunning yet undeniably pricey 17-inch PowerBook G4 is ready to satisfy even the most discriminating professional or personal user.

Don't let the clock speed fool you. The system's PowerPC G4 processor is a real step up from last year's 1 GHz G4 chip, running at 1.33 GHz and featuring 512 KB Level 2 cache for rapid retrieval of recently accessed data. Apple has added 512 MB of ultra-fast PC2700 (333MHz) DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 2 full GB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 graphics processor with 64 MB dedicated video memory, thus ensuring smooth operation during high-demand tasks such as 3-D games, 3-D drawing and multitasking.

This high-speed architecture continues throughout the unit, where you'll find connectivity options such a standard FireWire interface, an ultra-fast Apple-designed FireWire 800 port, two 480 Mbps USB 2.0 ports, integrated 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet, 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless, and built-in Bluetooth for the new breed of cordless digital peripherals. Storage facilities include a spacious ATA/100 80 GB hard disk and a versatile DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive through which you can burn audio CDs, backup critical and write DVD-R discs at 2X speed.

Visually, the aluminum alloy-clad 17-inch PowerBook G4 is as dramatic as it is functional. Sporting the largest widescreen display of any notebook and the same screen dimensions as a 19-inch CRT monitor, the unit is nevertheless surprisingly thin and lightweight at 15.4 by 10.2 by 1 inches and 6.8 pounds. Other unique perks include a tap/double tap/drag trackpad, a convenient backlit keyboard for low-light situations, and a DVI output for the efficient digital connection of LCD monitors. Battery life is estimated at an admirable 4.5 hours under ideal conditions. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

I switched from 10+ years of Microsoft's platform, MACS rule
This powerbook is a work of art..Very well thought out from the hardware to the software.....
The windows platform has only one advantage over Mac products ....their price point. I have had this Powerbook for 2 1/2weeks and have only used my PC three times (to get files I needed).

I know the prices are higher on the Mac side, but the money is well spent.....If you can afford a MAC then get one, you will not be sorry

Hope is helps someone
best of luck
JD

First Class Computer -- Need Upgrades for Support
As other reviewers have stated, the hardware itself is great. The computer is visually stunning. And the OS is rock-solid and user-friendly.

Some people have complained about the size for traveling. It's about as small as a 17" computer could be -- but if you are sitting in coach and the person in front of you reclines their seat, it's hard to use. (Get the 12" if you think this might be a problem for you.)

Finally, a word on Apple service. I had some problems with this computer and needed to send it back to Apple several times -- which is a bad thing. On the other hand, I finally reached Roberto, a Powerbook specialist in AppleCare, who was understanding and expedited my repair -- which is a good thing. 4-stars -- would have been 5-stars except for the hardware problems.

Cost a lot, but it's a good computer
Now I've been down on Apple because they charge 2X for a computer built by they same people making computers for everyone else.But I have to admit, this thing looks great.Now I jumped ship to Centrino because I needed more battery life, but if I was to buy Apple again, this would be the one. ... Read more

Asin: B0000D8DLH
Subjects: 1. PowerBook 2. (Power Book) 3. Notebooks (Note Books) 4. Notebook Computers 5. Laptops (Lap Tops) 6. Apple 7. (Mac) 8. (Macintosh)

Apple eMac Desktop 17" M8951LL/B (1.0-GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Personal Computers

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

As the most affordable products in the entire Apple roster of desktop computers, eMacs are not intended for sophisticated applications where power and versatility are paramount. They are, however, just fine for general day-to-day tasks such as word processing, personal finances, Internet surfing, email and light gaming/entertainment. They’re also small enough to fit comfortably on virtually any desk or table, no matter how cluttered it might be. This model, the Apple eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B, offers twice the RAM and twice the hard disk space of the entry-level eMac, and is also equipped with a DVD recorder.

Driven by a 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM (upgradeable to one full GB) and an ATI Radeon 7500 graphics chipset with 32 MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM memory, the eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B sports satisfactory front-end speed and enough 3-D drawing power to handle midlevel games and 3-D rendering applications.

Like all eMacs, the eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B sports a unique and conveniently space-efficient one-piece design. Inside, Apple has incorporated a sizeable 80 GB hard disk (enough space for a typical allotment of data and a full library of multimedia files) and a DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive combo drive through which you can burn audio CDs, archive information, watch your favorite DVD movies, and record home movies to DVD format. The system also incorporates a surprisingly generous 17-inch glass-tube CRT (not LCD) display and integrated stereo speakers.

Connectivity options include a 56K modem for dial-up communication, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet chipset for high-speed network and Internet interaction, an expansion slot for wireless networking, two FireWire 400 ports (commonly used for transferring data to and from digital camcorders), and five USB 1.1 ports for external devices such as joysticks and scanners. Potential customers should note that the unit is not equipped with new high-speed USB 2.0 ports. An Apple keyboard and Apple mouse complete the hardware picture.

Bundled software includes Mac OS X, World Book 2003, Quicken 2004 Deluxe, and an impressive range of multimedia utilities and games. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great computer... Mac or Otherwise
Like many who have written reviews before me, I am a switcher.Acutally, that's not entirely accurate, as I was a long-time Mac user prior to 1997.My last two machines were PCs running Windows 95 and XP, respectively.

My PC actually worked resonably well for MS office, high-speed internet, and digital photography.It was weak on digital music and useless for digital video processing.The last straw was a few weeks ago when I tried to install a DVD RW drive.After that fiasco, I made good on my contiuning threat to switch to Mac.

Enter the Emac.First of all, I purchased the 1Ghz model with the Superdrive, as we're expecting our first child and I want to be able to author DVDs to share with the family.I upgraded the unit to 512MB RAM (Using one DIMM slot) from the 256MB standard.I also ordered the tilt/swivel stand based on other reviews I've read.

The first thing to say about the computer is it's big.Sure, it doesn't have an under-desk box to go with it, and cable issues are much improved over multi-component systems, but this is a big, heavy machine.

The screen, though a CRT, is simply stunning.Increadible resolution, and the Quartz graphics and text rendering make this easily the nicest computer screen I've ever worked on.

Right out of the box, the computer is ready for DSL or cable internet with it's built-in ethernet connection.A quick phone call to my DSL provider had me online in no time.Hooking up my Linksys wireless router (for my wife's PC notebook) was a breeze with the auto-configurer located in the System Preferences / Network section.It worked so well it was almost scary.

The real strength of the system is OX 10.3.This is a beautiful operating system.First of all, it is increadibly intuitive.Want a picture from the net?Just drag it onto the desktop.The little things are just so much easier and less cumbersome.The interface is gorgeous, like liquid mercury.Thanks to the powerful graphics processing, even things like minimizing windows and switching users is a joy to watch.The "Dock" at the bottom of the screen keeps your most used programs accessable, and it's translucency and animation are visually very pleasing.

The software Apple included with the Emac is wonderful.ILife includes Itunes, Iphoto, Imovie, IDVD, and Garage Band.Itunes is simply the best jukebox / audio organizer on the market, period.Importing my favorite CDs, converting to and from MP3, and purchasing new tunes from the Itunes store is a piece of cake.Streaming audio (online radio) is very easy to use, and a huge improvement over Windows / Real player.Burning CDs, and making playlists (and smart playlists) is no problem either.Iphoto allow very logical photo organization, cropping, and some effects (though for high-end effects, you will need Photoshop or Photoshop Elements).Ordering prints directly from apple (Kodak processing) is simple too.

My favorite of these programs, however, is Imovie / IDVD.I was able to take footage from my mini DV (via 4-6 pin firewire), and within 1 hour I had a nice video of my dog playing (remember, I'm practicing for the arrival of child #1), complete with dual channel audio overlay (our voices and the dog along with imported audio, appropriately mixed).Video transitions, fades, splicing, cutting were all intuitive and quickly learned.Setting up a DVD with menus, graphics on the title screen, and fully functional on my home DVD player took just minutes.I can't wait to WOW my friends and family with professional quality family and vacation videos.It simply amazes me that this computer can do this so well right out of the box, without the extremely costly video editing software and hardware that projects like this used to require.

A program not often discussed, but very impressive is Sherlock, also preloaded on the machine.It basically works like Yahoo, with channels such as yellow pages, E-Bay, Translator, Movies, and others.The phone book feature is especially handy.Just type in what you're looking for and the number appears, along with driving distances, an excellent (and acurate) map, and driving directions.The movie channel automatically displays theatres near your house, movies playing, times, and (quickly) downloads previews.

Apple now has a new web browser, Safari, which also ships with the Emac.It is also very nice to use, and offers some important new features including tabbed browsing, an excellent menu / favorites bar, and an excellent downloading system for files, programs, and other info.It does have some quirks (ie difficulty downloading attachments from Hotmail), but all in all it offers a much nicer environment than Netscape or IE (in my opinion).The Emac also ships with IE, so if one prefers they can browse with it instead.

Ironically, MS Office for Mac OS X (purchased separately) works even better than Office XP in my opinion.The interface is so much nicer, and it's functionallity is superb.One drawback is no MS Access for Mac (though rumors abound that it will be available this year).

The only negatives I have are:1.Poor written OS instructions.Though intuitive, OS X is a big change from Windows, and some instruction is often needed.A "getting started" guide is included, and Apple.com has wonderful on-line support and Q&A sections, but a real OS book is nice.I purchased "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition", and have been very happy with it.2.Internal speakers.These are actually pretty nice sounding for the size, and having them built in is compact and convenient.However, I love listening to music on the computer, and I'm happier with powered external speakers (either USB or through the headphone jack).

I had very high hopes for this computer, and it has more than exceeded my desires.This is a great computer for anyone looking to be able to handle digital audio and video in a stable environment, and the cost makes this a very accessable machine for many more people than Apple's other products.

If you are looking into getting one, order the swivel stand, and consider upgrading the RAM to 512MB from the factory (you don't use up the 2nd precious DIMM slot that way).If authoring DVDs is important to you, make sure to get the Super Drive model.

Don't buy this
1 GHz[.] ATI 7500 graphics[.]This system is 2-3 years out of date.If you are on a budget buy a P4 based system.If you have the money buy a nice G5 based system with 512M of RAM.This computer is something you would buy for a 5 year old.

The eMac is a winner!
First of all I'm a switcher. I came over to the Mac side with the purchase of this 1Ghz Emac with superdrive. I have since sold my windows PC and am forever a Mac-Head now. The first thing to know about this machine is that there is SOME fan noise but it certainly isn't a major issue. It's just a light drone not unlike what a fridge may sound like. If the noise is that big of a concern, I would get an iMac with a flat panel display. I heard those things are silent.

The Emac now ships with Mac OS 10.3 "Panther". It's a powerful operating system that remains easy to use and unobtrusive. I wont go into too much on Panther in this review because I want to concentrate on the iApps!

By far the most impressive thing about this and any other Mac is the "out of the box" experience. When you set it up there's so much you can do with it without buying ANY additional software. Right out of the box you can edit a movie and burn a DVD with truly stunning results, you can organize all your MP3's with iTunes, iPhoto handles all your digital images and the best part is they all work seamlessly together. For example you can arrange a slide show in iPhoto and have iTunes play an MP3 for the background without even opening iTunes. If you own an iPod it will sync up with iTunes flawlessly. This kind of cross collaboration between programs and hardware is evident everywhere on this machine.

One area I wish could be improved is that MSN Messenger for the Mac is about 2 years behind its PC counterpart in terms of features. Keep in mind that this has nothing to do with this computer. That is totally Microsoft's responsibility. On the PC end MSN Messenger has voice and video but the Mac version is just text. For great audio and video communication the Mac includes iChat AV which works with AOL's AIM to provide cross platform A/V chat . Too bad everyone I know uses MSN Messenger.

The system sound is ok but you'll probably want to add powered speakers to it and you'll be much happier with the richness of the sound. Overall I have to say I love this computer. ... Read more

Asin: B0000UA4BU
Subjects: 1. Power Mac 2. (PowerMac) 3. Desktops (Desk Tops) 4. Desktop Computers 5. Apple 6. (Mac) 7. (Macintosh)

Apple iBook Notebook 14.1" M9388LL/A (933-MHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Personal Computers

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

If you’ve considered Apple’s amazing new PowerBook G4 series of portable computers but can’t quite justify the expense, you may want to check out PowerBook’s less expensive, slightly less capable sibling, the iBook G4. Available in three flavors, the iBook G4 doesn’t sport PowerBook amenities such as DVD burning and massive widescreen displays, yet all three models feature superb connectivity, subcompact dimensions, and impressive battery life. This particular unit, the 14-inch M9388LL/A, is the midlevel iBook and one of the best bang for the buck notebooks in the entire Apple roster.

Featuring a spry power section consisting of a 933 MHz PowerPC G4 processor and 256 MB RAM (expandable to 640 MB), the system packs enough raw muscle for most typical mobile computing tasks. However, the real surprise comes in its 3D rendering capabilities. Unlike many comparably equipped notebooks, the iBook G4 14-inch M9388LL/A features an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 video chipset with 32 MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM memory. Thusly, it will efficiently handle many demanding 3D drawing and gaming applications too.

At just 12.7 by 10.2 by 1.35 inches and 5.9 pounds, the iBook G4 14-inch M9388LL/A is a pound heavier and a few square inches larger than its close cousin, the entry-level iBook G4 12-inch M9164LL/A. Nevertheless, it is smaller and more portable than many competing notebooks. Furthermore, this unit features a larger viewing screen than the 12-inch model, a 14.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display capable of 1024x768 resolution. For data handling, Apple has included a midsize 40 GB hard disk and a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive through which you can burn audio CDs, archive files and play the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Connectivity options include an integrated 56K modem for dial-up communications, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port for LAN and high-speed Internet and email, and two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port for external high-tech toys such as scanners, digital cameras and digital camcorders. Users can also purchase an Apple AirPort Extreme Card for wireless communication and an internal Bluetooth module to interact with future cordless Bluetooth devices such as cell phones and PDAs.

Bundled software includes Apple’s newest operating system, Mac OS X v.10.3 Panther, and a broad range of highly useable multimedia utilities. Under ideal conditions, battery life is estimated at a stunning six hours. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Daziling Laptop
The iBook G4 is a great laptop! It runs like a charm. And is extreamly fast compared to the older iBooks. I can have several applications open and it works great! Such as I can have Safari, AIM, iTunes, and more open and play a game and it runs perfectly. In fact it would seem it is just as fast as some of the iMacs. It has very clear sound for iTunes or games or anything. Speaking of games: Because it has a very strong processor (G4 933 MHz) games run like heaven on it. Currebntly I have Call of Duty on it, a rather strong game, and it delvers the perfect experiance Mac gamers want. The iBook G4 aslo comes with for no charge at all Tony Hawk's Proskater 4 and Deimos Rising. Back to applications: Th iBook G4 has great applicatons such as iTunes, Safari, Internet Explorer, iChat, AppleWorks 6, iCal, iPhoto, iMovie,and more! This computer also has very long battery life. Around 4 or 5 hours! As for design, wonderful. It has a great screen, and great keyboard (in fact one of the best laptop keyboards I have used). And I like it's color. It's just a simple good looking white. There you have it, the great and almighty iBook G4. Trust me, worth it's money.

Great value.
At nearly the 1 GHz speed and with identical specs, this is a great value.Also, while not mentioned here, this does include all the latest software included with more recent, faster models, includingiLife (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand), AppleWorks, Mac OS X Panther, Quicken 2004 for Mac, World Book 2004 Edition, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, and Deimos Rising.The hardware is identical to more recent, faster models as well.Aside from these notes, I can say I'm very impressed with the Mac experience, as this is my first Mac.The quality of the design of the hardware and software is unending and flawless.This is a great, lightweight (7.9 lbs) laptop for using to create documents or surf wirelessly.I highly recommend adding the Airport Extreme card, not included.

Great Computer
I use this as a travel computer for work.All work PC's are dell machines.Word documents, Excel documents, and power point presentations can all move back and forth between the mac and the dell without problems.Obviously email and websurfing are interchangeable, too.This is my favorite computer.Small, light, large screen, holds personal photos and music, and almost never crashes.Compared to our Dells, this computer is a rock-solid saint.
Battery lasts a long time, plays DVD's, burns CD's that can be read by PC's.
Reasonable price, great value. ... Read more

Asin: B0000U98MQ
Subjects: 1. Notebooks (Note Books) 2. Notebook Computers 3. Laptops (Lap Tops) 4. Apple 5. (Mac) 6. (Macintosh)

Apple M7649ZM/B Studio Display 17" LCD Monitor
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Electronics
list price: $699.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

This modern, minimalist display is clearly designed for those with demanding temperaments. Its lightweight 17-inch screen supplies the outstanding 1,280 x 1,024 resolution you'd normally find in a 21-inch CRT giant, while the clean, simple lines and clutter-reducing two-port USB hub will have your desktop ready for a photo shoot.

Features include an anti-glare hardcoat, 16.7 million color capability, 0.264 mm dot pitch, and 350:1 contrast ratio for a rich, bright picture. The 170-degree viewing angle and nearly instant pixel response promise satisfaction when you're dealing with graphic-heavy applications--games, DVDs, and professional design programs are all a joy to watch.

Apple includes a one-year warranty that covers parts and service, and provides 90 days of free technical support. ... Read more

Features

1,280 x 1,024 resolution, 0.264mm dot pitch
Pure digital interface
170-degree viewing angles
2-port self-powered USB hub
1-year warranty with 90 days of free tech support

Reviews (3)

Tried 3 other; should have just bought this one!
After ruining my existing CRT monitor, I had to buy a replacement. Searched for low-cost, high-quality CRTs and found none (went to at least 6 stores). Brought home two CRTs and immediately took them back. Then decided to up the ante by looking at LCDs. Bought the Sony SDM-HS73 (based on reviews and store demo). Brought it home and immediately didn't like the text when plugged in my G4 -- very fuzzy and gave me a headache.

So I finally did what my wife and several friends suggested, spend the $700+ and buy the monitor I knew I really wanted/needed. Save yourself the search and buy the best to start.

Cons: price tag, only Mac compatible, must need ADC.

So I finally did what my wife and several friends suggested, spend the $700+ and buy the monitor I knew I really wanted/needed. Save yourself the search and buy the best to start.

Cons: price tag, only Mac compatible, must need ADC.

Beautiful for 1-2 years, then backlight fails.
I really wish that I could give this Apple product 5 stars, write some words of praise, and be on my way, but unfortunately I would feel uncomfortable recommending this monitor.

For two full years, this monitor was great. The resolution is generous, it is bright, and the fully digital ADC interface is perfect. Colors look good from a wide range of angles. The casing is smart and takes up little space, and it's easy to clean. The touch-sensitive power and brightness buttons are a nice touch that you expect from Apple.

Unfortunately, after two years, the top half of my display suddenly went dim, which is extremely annoying. I wouldn't post a negative review here just because I got unlucky. I am posting here because hundreds of customers have seen their displays fail within the first two years. Just look at Apple's discussion boards to see for yourself. (I can't post URLs in reviews.) Apple has not acknowledged that this is a widespread problem, and repair costs exceed that of a new display. It is also unclear as to whether or not this problem has been fixed in newer models. ... Read more

Asin: B00008DCY0
Subjects: 1. Apple 2. (Mac) 3. (Macintosh)

Apple Cinema HD Display 23" LCD Monitor
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Electronics
list price: $2,000.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

Incredibly wide 170-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles
Lightning-fast pixel response for full-motion digital video
Full 23-inch diagonal display area
Supports 1,920 x 1,200 resolution for high-definition video and stills
Designed to work with the Power Mac G4 digital graphics interface for distortion-free images

Reviews (26)

too expensive, but undeniably good
I got one of these and you get what you pay for with this screen. The problem is you pay a lot.

Its a very nice screen. Nothing more I can say. Never seen a nicer LCD anywhere. Only reason I dind't give it 5 stars is the price (which is astronomical).

I use it to watch movies, do work, everything. I don't even have a TV.

By the way if anyone knows if a DVD player that I can hook right up to the DVI input of this I would love to find one. DVD player makers are retarded, I havn't found a good DVD player yet that is made to work with DVI (for computers, not DVI for HDTV which apparenltly for some stupid reason is not compatibly).

If you get the 30" model you don't need a TV or HDTV. Its much better than all that crap anyway. HDTVs can come in bigger sizes but the quality is so much worse you are better off not getting one.

Excellent monitor
The screen itself is excellent.Especially since you can get a (...) rebate if u buy it together with an Apple G5 Powermac.Buy one you won't be disappointed.Also, Apple will release a 30" display in the Apple WWDC (...)

Phenomenal product - my best purchase in 2003
I bought this monitor from Amazon almost a year ago.I am still amazed at how big it is - and I mean big in terms of usable screen space.I have it hooked up to my Intel based PC using a DVI video card.It is aesthetically beautiful as well which was a nice change of pace from my previous large screen monitors which were not much to look at.Everything looks good on this screen.High res digital photos, computer games, the 2+ full size Internet browsers that I can place side to side and still have room left on the screen.In short I am really glad I spent the money on it. ... Read more

Asin: B000067V08
Sales Rank: 31093
Subjects: 1. Flatpanel Monitor (Flat Panel Monitors) 2. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple 3. Apple 4. (Mac) 5. (Macintosh)

Apple M8799LL/A AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:

Electronics
-- our price: $229.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port is compatible with the industry-standard 802.11b wireless networking protocol, which means all AirPort products, as well as Wi-Fi certified 802.11b wireless products. For higher performance you will need to have both the Airport Extreme Card and the AirPort Extreme Base Station. The range of AirPort Extreme is up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps. The Base Station can be used in conjunction with an Ethernet connection (such as with a cable modem, DSL modem, or Ethernet network) through the integrated Ethernet port, or with a telephone line through a modem.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port also supports USB or Ethernet wireless printer sharing. Just plug in a compatible USB or Ethernet printer and with Mac OS X on your computer you can quickly and easily print. You can use the new USB port to attach a USB printer or use the 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN port to plug in an Ethernet printer directly into the base station.

With the new AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port, up to 50 users can work and play on the Internet simultaneously up to 150 feet away from an Ethernet connection or a phone line. The Base Station comes equipped with a built-in firewall to protect sensitive data on your computer and the ability to secure transmissions with support for 128-bit encryption.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port lets you manage the range of your wireless network. An external antenna port is provided for you to attach an external antenna. There are two types of antennas available: an omni-directional and a directional, which extend the range of the AirPort Extreme base station. There is also a software feature that allows you on reduce the size of your wireless network, down to just a single room for extra privacy. ... Read more

Features

Includes built-in v.90 modem with an RJ-11 port and an external antenna port
Exchange files or play multiplayer games at data transfer rates of up to 54 Mbps
Compatible with the industry-standard 802.11b wireless networking protocol
Range of up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps
Supports USB or Ethernet wireless printer sharing

Reviews (13)

Should have bought this one first!
Apple builds products that are easy for anyone to use.They don't require a lot of knowledge about the hardware.The base station was very easy to set up.The Airport Setup Assistant runs you through all of the important steps in language that is as plain as possible.If you want finer control, you can then move to the Airport Admin Utility.

The only problem I ran into during setup was getting the base station to work with my Comcast cable service.The first call to tech support ran me through the essential setup items, making sure that I had everything set up properly.The second call was to Comcast, who said it certainly wasn't their problem.Back to Apple.After that call, I really can't say enough good things about Apple's tech support.For one, it's not outsourced.You're talking to someone who speaks English very well.The second thing is that they're not working off of a script as far as I can tell.They try the standard fixes, of course, but they're able to work with whatever comes up.After probably 30 minutes or so of trying everything we could think of, the support person went up the chain - I've never seen that from tech support before - to a product specialist.When that advice didn't work the next step was to actually have me talk to a product specialist.By that time it was 30 minutes or so after quitting time on a Friday, so the product specialist was no longer available.The support rep actually apologized for not being able to put me on the line with the specialist.I was impressed that he worked as long as he did after quitting time on a Friday without any hint of trying to hurry along and get rid of me.I was about to call tech support again today (Saturday), but decided to give the setup one more try.It worked!I don't know why or how the problem was solved.I'm just happy it all works now.

The Airport Extreme Base Station is a little expensive, but compared to the grief I've had with a less expensive wireless router, and the excellent support I received from Apple, I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

A snap to set up and use!
The Airport Extreme from Apple is all that the information and video says that it is.Easy to set up, use, and maintain.

If you have a wired or wireless network and are looking for a way to upgrade or expand your current network, then this product is for you.

Excellent, but needs better Windows software
This is an excellent product and certainly recommend it. However, the included configuration software for Windows XP is not easy to use. For example, it lacks an easy way to determine whether log-in to a PPP over Ethernet account has been successful. The software for my old Linksys router was much better. This was surprising to me considering this is an Apple product. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this product. ... Read more

Asin: B0000899ZA
Subjects: 1. Apple 2. (Mac) 3. (Macintosh)

$229.99

D-Link DI-624 802.11g AirPlus Xtreme G 108 Mbps Wireless Router
by D-Link
Average Customer Review:

Electronics
list price: $89.99 -- our price: $59.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

Increased Security with 802.1X and WPA
Features robust security to protect the wireless network from intruders
Up to 108 Mbps with AirPlus Xtreme G products
Advanced Firewall and parental control
Backwards compatible with all 802.11b and 802.11g products

Reviews (286)

A Top of the Line Wireless Router - Highly Recommended!
This router seems to stick it's head everywhere I've been. Friends houses, small businesses, parents house, all over the Internet, etc. I keep hearing this name mentioned or talked about in a forum somewhere. It's kind of creepy. Anyhow, after seeing the way this product performs at other people's houses/businesses I decided to get one for myself.

I was smiling when I found out it actually does a good job of being a firewall, a wireless access point, a 4 port switch, and even some parental control features for the Internet. Very nice features this thing packs inside it's box. Heck even the power cord is color coded so that you know blue goes with blue. Very NICE!

Overall I'd have to say this router is a pleasure to work with. Easy to configure, simple in it's setup, yet has many features you can get "hardcore" with. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good router/firewall/wireless access point with more options than normal.

SURPRISE! It Works!
I don't see why D-Link could keep selling all of these (on of their most popular products from what I hear) and have them all not working. I see so many complaints, but I can't say I sympathize with any of them. My 624 router works great, and always has.

I basically followed the instructions when setting it up, and even opened some ports so my son and I can play some online games while stil being protected. The wireless works great and is fast enough for gaming with my laptop.

A Well Priced and Feature Rich Wireless Router
I've had this router for about 4 months now and it has never caused me problems. I've had my Internet connection go out, maybe 3-4 times in the past 4 months from what I can remember, and the only thing I had to do to restart it was unplug my cable modem and plug it back in again. Very simple, and obviously not the router's fault.

Anyhow the features this wireless router has is well enough for most anyone looking for a fast, secure, and easy to use router/firewall/accesspoint. You can even have a URL filter and filter out certain sites at a router level. Very useful for advertisement sites. ... Read more

Asin: B00007LTBA
Sales Rank: 186
Subjects: 1. Email Appliances (Appliance)

$59.99

Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 6.1 with Windows XP Pro
by Microsoft
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (18 August, 2003)
list price: $249.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

Reviews (25)

Why did I even give this 1 star????
The only thing I can say with regards of virtual pc is that the feeling of using it is no different than having $1,000,000.00 the other side of a window and not being able to open the window to get to it!Yes, it's that frustrating!

Putting the Microsoft Wizard to Work with Virtual PC 6.1
Strength of Virtual PC

The biggest strength of Virtual PC 6.1 is that it works well. Within minutes of running the installer you can be using Windows XP on your Mac. A setup assistant guides you through adjusting the application's RAM, VRAM, and other basic settings.

Windows XP can run in full screen mode or in a small window mode. Using the Command (Apple) and 'M' keys, toggles you back and forth from full screen mode to small screen mode on your Macintosh.

Virtual PC Toolbar

Virtual PC 6 has a toolbar in the lower left-hand corner. All the Toolbar icons use contextual menus (Control-Click-hold). All the icons let you pop up the Virtual PC 6 Settings window.

Using the hard drive icon, I can launch the Disk Assistant application. The Virtual PC 6 CD icon can unmount or eject a CD. The floppy icon lets you unmount or ejects a floppy. You also can mount a floppy disk image by dragging it to the icon. The Shared Folder icon lets you navigate to a Macintosh folder for sharing on both Mac and Windows platforms.

Working with Virtual PC 6.1

I needed FileMaker Pro program running on my Mac computer. I received additional consulting work from a jewelry company that wanted me to set up a database with graphics of their jewelry products. They had several PCs running Windows XP linked to various servers.

Instead of purchasing a Windows computer, I used Virtual PC to get the job done. I transferred information from and to their Windows XP computers and my Mac G4 by using my Mac's Zip drive.

Next, I made sure that I had PC zip cartridges for backup to get the job done. Virtual PCÊ 6.1 worked well for my evening work setting up and editing the FileMaker Pro database.

Solving Connection Problems

I had trouble connecting to America Online with Virtual PC. The problem was having the right ISP (Internet Service Provider) serial setup number.

The sweetest sound. The answer was using Network Setup Wizard. I had to use my America Online Windows' CD to setup the proper network connection.

In additon, I find that I can connect to the Internet using my Mac AOL OS X and Mac Internet Explorer connection. Now, I use Internet Explorer for Windows to connect to web for special Windows projects.

Pro Reaction

Most of the Window programs Mac users run on their PCs can run on Mac computers using Virtual PC. Virtual PC is an inexpensive way to use Windows programs. You can take over your virtual PC environment. You can even cut and paste between Mac and PC desktops. Virtual PC takes advantage of my dual processor Macs.

I could connect Virtual PC to my printer. I can do this by using my shared USB HP printer which connects well in Virtual PC. My additional external drives, Lacie and Acomdata drives are shared in Virtual PC.

Con Reaction

I had difficulty with my internet account. My computer problem was having the right America Online ISP (Internet Service Provider) serial number.

This should be mentioned in the help menu for America Online users. I found using the Network Setup Wizard connection with AOL CD the answer to the America Online connection problem.

Final Remarks

The major reason that I have to get online is to register my Windows software and receive authorization pass codes to continue to use the software. In addition, I can upload my graphics to my web sites on register.com that normally do not take graphics from a Mac computer.

You can register by telephone by calling Microsoft's toll-free number if you do not have an internet connection. You need to have your Virtual PC registration pass code when calling Microsoft.

Multiple lock-ups and fatal errors
I'm running a Mac powerbook G4 with 1 gig of ram.At work, I'm on a PC network where we only use two programs--outlook for messaging, and ACT where we keep our database.Everyday I would experience fatal errors and lockups in addition to it just being slow.Mistakenly, I assumed that if I brought the ram up to 2 gigs, i could allocate 1 gig to virtual pc.WRONG!Microsoft says Virtual PC doesn't allow you to allocate any more than 512K.What a piece of S. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AI0NY
Sales Rank: 4104
Subjects: 1. Computer software (programs) 2. Cross Platform 3. Compatible (Compatibility)

The Sims (Mac)
by Aspyr Media
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (25 July, 2000)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $39.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The idea behind The Sims is this: the ultimate goal of life is to achieve happiness, and the way to achieve happiness is to satisfy your Sims' needs. That's right, The Sims allows you to create, direct, and manage the lives of SimCity's residents. Each need (Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene, Bladder, Energy, Fun, Social, and Room) can be met by interaction with other Sims or objects: throw a party with the help of a rockin' stereo system, and watch your Sims' Social and Fun ratings improve. Have one of your Sims whip up some food from the refrigerator, and you'll satisfy the Hunger needs of your guests. Or have your Sim engage another Sim in a game of chess: not only will their Fun and Social moods improve, both Sims will gain some points in their Logic skill rating--which might help on the job.

Mismanage your new, simulated family, and you'll be faced with the worst of MTV's The Real World--with a touch of teenage angst drama thrown in for good measure: jealousies will ignite, fights will break out, jobs will be lost, and the house will fall apart. Bringing about such a calamity is almost as much fun as guiding these Sims to material paradise, and takes considerably less time.

A good general rule is that the more expensive the object, the better its ability to satisfy Sim needs. One gameplay goal is to improve your Sim so he or she can climb the career ladder, which nets him or her more money, which allows the purchase of higher quality stuff, which lets you improve your Sim even more. Eventually, your Sim will have a mate, kids, and a mansion with an indoor pool.

Before you decide how to fix your Sims' health and happiness, you need to craft each of your simulated people: pick a name and a gender, decide on personality/astrological sign, and then choose a look from a variety of heads, bodies, and skin tones.After the creation, the next step is to find a place to live. Again, the player can choose from among the empty houses in the neighborhood or decide to buy some land and design a dream house. Building houses is a blast, and the easy-to-use house design interface could almost be its own game: players design the floor plan, put up walls, pick carpet, wallpaper, and siding, and fill the house with furniture, decorations, fixtures, and appliances. You're limited only by your imagination--and your Sims' pocketbook. But the choices you make in designing and decorating your Sims' house are vital.

Triumph or tragedy, each significant event in a Sim's life is captured in a snapshot and saved in a photo album for later viewing. Players can also take photos any time they wish. The photo album feature is cool by itself, but the best part is that you can upload the album to www.thesims.com and share your Sims' sagas with the world. Entire families can also be uploaded and downloaded, as can houses. Want to re-create and manage your own version of Friends? Download the free face and body editor and make Sim clones of Ross, Rachel, and the rest. Want to go really crazy and perfectly re-create the set? Snag the free wall and floor texture editor. With The Sims, you can create whatever--and whomever--you desire.

Toying with the lives, successes, and emotional states of dozens of little Sims is undeniably fun. In the same way that SimCity players develop a condescending attitude toward real-world city planners, The Sims players will begin to see life as a series of needs-satisfying challenges; the game gets in your head. But that's OK: limitless gameplay, endless variety, cool Internet features, and the ability to play matchmaker/landlord/counselor/God makes The Sims a great way to increase your own Fun score. --Mike Fehlauer

Pros:

Unique, addictive, fun gameplay
Included photo album feature records triumphs and tragedies
Free uploads and downloads expand the game and allow swapping with other players
Sims are smart--it's sometimes best to just let them act on their own

Cons:

Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, job
Complex behavioral modeling program--requires serious computing power
No pets other than fish

Features

Reviews (99)

This Sims Game is Great !!!!!
This was the first computer game I ever got and it was the bomb! It was great in all 4 corners. But one thing I didn't get was why don't the people just speak english. Anyhow this game was the BOMB!

STOP!
look people this game is cool and all the things you can create but stop!!!! before buyiing don't buy only the sims buy an expancion pack because after a while you want more and you would like better houses and all of that I recomend you to buy "living large" or if you like dates you should buy hot date but stop and think research to see what you would like that your sims do but please don't buy only the sims because its very limited and belive me you would like more

other than that the game is great

Sim up a family and simmer down!!!
The Sims is for people who like to goof around, create and have fun! You can make people, choose the color of their skin, their age, their personality, male or female, clothing etc... It's a must have! You build or buy a house, and create their environments and furniture and lots of stuff. There's a cheat code to get you tons of money, but i can't tell you! Ha! Anyway, the sims has it's own type of addictive game playing, and everyone will love this! But i'm saying about 10 and up, although it depends how you canhandle some...things. Even though the sims is rated T for teen, there's nothing wrong with it, and you'll love it!!!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004TFJC
Subjects: 1. Maxis 2. thesims people 3. Computer Games 4. Macintosh (Machintosh) 5. Mac 6. Apple 7. Strategy (Strategic)

$39.99

Neverwinter Nights (Mac)
by MacSoft
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (30 July, 2003)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $49.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

Dungeons and Dragon-based Internet-enabled fantasy role-playing game
Set in D and D's-based Forgotten Realms world
Choose what skills and abilities you will develop as you voyage though Forgotten Realms
DM Client allows nearly unlimited control for running your own adventures
For 1 to 64 players (multiplayer requires Internet connection)

Reviews (14)

Great story, graphics, and sound. Subpar control & gameplay.
I recently bought a Mac and have decided to try computer gaming. I've been playing console games since NES, and have used computers for music and work, but I never mixed the two. The first game I bought was Neverwinter Nights as I love console RPGs and Action/RPGs. This is a cool game, with great graphics, but the gameplay is rather restrictive if your a console gamer.

I am trying to stick with this game, as I like the story and enjoy the general look and atmosphere of the game, but this is nothing like any console RPGs that I've played. You don't control your character directly the way I am used to with console games. I feel more like your character is an NPC and your sort of give him suggestions. There exists a layer of abstraction between you and your character, so you don't feel as though he is your onscreen representation (as you would with a Zelda or FF game) but rather a separate entity that you direct (another way to put this is, in a Zelda game for example, I would say "I'm trying to hit this enemy" or "I just ran across that bridge", In Neverwinter I'm more likely to say "I'm trying to get him to move" or "I want to get him to the other side of town"). You control your character by pointing him in the direction you want him to go with your mouse, he decides the path he takes and his exact movements himself. You click on enemies to attack them, but he doesn't attack when you click, but rather when he's good and ready, resulting in many an untimely death. Combat feels very forced and unruly - it's this element of the game that comes very close to ruining the whole experience. I'mprogressing at a snail's pace, and will abandon this game if it doesn't become more fun in the near future.

Overall this seems like it could be a great game, if this sort of gaming experience fits your fancy. As a console gamer I just feel to detached from the action and not in enough control. I often find myself in situations (especially combat) where I'm thinking "If I could only control my character directly, or attack at will, this would be great fun". This game comes across allot closer to something like starcraft wrapped in the trappings of an RPG - I would almost call it an RPG/Sim. If your a computer gamer, this sort of thing might be your bag, but if your a console gamer, I'd be weary. I can tell there's a great game underneath it all, and that's why I'm plugging away at it though the fun has yet to start (I'm almost 10 hours into it without completing a single quest) - that and I spent 39 bucks on it, so I've got to at least attempt to get my money's worth. I would reccomend Neverwinter Nights to anyone who enjoys this sort of indirect control gameplay, as all other aspects of the game are top notch. I wouldn't reccomend it to someone from a console background.

P.S. There is a control scheme that tries to give your more control over your character, but it really doesn't work out so hot. You can tell how this game "wants" to be played, and it's not by direct control. Though it's borderline agonizing, your best off with the mouse.

Will Rule Your Free Time
It took a while for me to get this game mainly because I had a lowely 16 MB graphic card and after reading some reviews didn't think my 400 MhZ could run it. So with a 1.2 MhZ Sonnet upgrade and a 128 MB graphics card, Neverwinter Night runs well.One of my other inhibitions was from playing Baldur's Gate II and other RPG's that let you control and entire party instead of just one character. However, after playing NWN, I quickly got over it. The 3D graphics and ability to circle and tilt the camera, along with the raidial and hotkey menus, make game play simple. I played it through the first time with a monk, and he did die frequently even with the help of a henchmen, eventually he became awesome and able to quickly dispatch nearly any foe. Perhaps my only complaint is that the game isn't that long, but with two modules to add on and a slightly different experience depending on the class of your character, Neverwinter Nights is worth checking out.

Amazing Storyline and Gameplay
Wow.Neverwinter Nights totally blows away all other r.p.g.s out for mac today.Terrific graphics and gameplay are just part of the package.The real gem quality in this game is its storylines and quests.Compared to Dungeon Siege, the intricate storylines provide a real feel for the world.It is almost as if you have been sucked into a really great fantasy novel, playing the main character.The A.I.s, for the most part, actually engage in conversation with your character and you can choose how you speak to them and deal with them.I really enjoy the large number of quests that you can pick and choose to complete.The ability to mold your character's personality through your words and actions is also a really great, fun feature.Overall, despite this game's flaws (of which I think there are few), I think the stories and characters make this game an amazing way to keep yourself out of touch with reality. ... Read more

Asin: B0000A33ZM
Sales Rank: 926
Subjects: 1. Computer Games 2. Macintosh (Machintosh) 3. Mac 4. Apple 5. Adventure 6. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, crpg, crpgs, rpg, rpgs)

$49.99

WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos
by Vivendi Universal
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (02 July, 2002)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $24.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

Four different races to command including Orcs, Humans, Night Elves and Undead, each possessing unique units, magical abilities and weapons of war.
Skeletal and skinning animation process allows infinite frames of animation resulting in true fluid movement of 3D models.
Advanced world design tools allowing players to customize every aspect of the game including tile sets, character art, quests, mission objectives, and unit types, AI, attributes, special abilities and spells.
Expanded multiplayer options over Battle.net including a larger number of players per game and multiple game types including team play and questing.

Reviews (436)

WarCraftIII + Apple + a buddy = where the time go...
Super fun - I took my powerbook over to a buddies - hooked up an ethernet cable and bam - we were having a blast.Must admit the little lady was a little bent because I lost all sense of time and was a bit late for dinner.I will say it was worth it - great maps - great connection - and Blizzard just makes the best games ever - they are all about making games fun.
I can't recomend them enough.

Good game, great fun
this game is really fun, especially the online action. join TONS of people on Battle.net and play online for hours, its addicting. the sigle player also kicks arse if i may say so. i bought this game when it first came out for 50 bucks and i still play it. its awesome. im pretty sure in a general sense that if you like ANY video games you will love this.

Blizzard seems to be the only one who can make a good RTS
Represented in this years 2004 WCG (world cyber games). Games voted by the players of the world. The WCG is the equivalent of the Olympic games for video games. Nations and countries from around the world play in this event. This year, It was held in San Francisco(where I attended). Some of the biggest crowd turnouts, Aside from the usual Gamer favorite StarCraft, was WarCraft 3. Loud chants and even national pride anthems were song during the mathches. This game stands up to the test of professionals, tested for it's speed and compatibility. It is among the best in a category dominated by the computer media: RTS. As a long time RTS player I would rank this only second to StarCraft. And for those gamers not really into RTS, the game provides outlets for the online experience. Custom games where gamers like you, make the maps and the rules. Games like Sheep tag, Where you and how ever many other players build obstacles (farms in this case) to surround themselves with, so that online players, playing as Wolves, don't attack and kill you. The point of the game for the Sheeps side is to survive for twenty minutes. On the other side, the wolves, it is to kill every online sheep. The games are endless and thus are the opportunities for fun. I'm currently addicted to custom games. I can't find myself to do anything else. Join the crave.. The community of WarCraft is welcoming to new players.
The RTS is rather different than StarCraft, who requires blinding speed for not only Macro but also Micro. The average Pro gamer speed for StarCraft is around 200 apm. In WarCraft it's around 50. But that means that WC3 is only differrent. Giving gamers who couldn't compete with the engine of SC a wonderfully new outlet to compete. WC3 focuses more on Hero's. In the WCG those who lost their hero's lost the game. The maximum number of troops is low, around 100. But those numbers are deceiving to the critics out there. If you where given the opportunity of more troops, it would only lead to the emulation of SC. Blizzard wanted a new RTS. One with its own identity. They knew they couldn't cater to the needs of Pro SC gamers. The expectations were too high. So they worked for years, and in the end they gave us a graphicaly superb beast filled with Commanding hero's and spell casters who demand the game's victory or loss.-jeff ... Read more

Asin: B00005V9Q1
Sales Rank: 750
Subjects: 1. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations) 2. Military (Wargames 3. Macintosh (Machintosh) 4. Mac 5. Apple 6. Havas 7. Computer Games 8. Action 9. Adventure 10. Strategy (Strategic) 11. Fantasy

$24.99

WarCraft III Expansion: The Frozen Throne
by Vivendi Universal
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (01 July, 2003)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

One new Hero per race, each possessing powerful spells and magical abilities
A host of new units, each equipped with new abilities and spells, giving players the opportunity to create diverse strategic and tactical forms of combat
Player-built shops, unique for each race, equipped with items carefully designed to improve and aid the units of every race
Neutral Heroes, available for recruitment by all players, that can supplement and strengthen a player's army with all new spells and abilities

Reviews (88)

Great addition to a great game!
When I first went to my friend's house to play Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, I had lots of fun! I didn't enjoy the normal maps too much, sadly, and I wasn't really looking forward to buying the game.

Then, I went online with my free Battle.net account and downloaded a player-made map. I really loved the map, so I decided I'd save up and buy Warcraft 3. The game kept me entertained on and off. I'd play it for hours on end, then I'd stop for about 2 weeks, then go back to play it again! New maps are made almost every week, as players love to find fame. I, myself, have made a number of maps.

Anyway, when my friend got the expansion pack, I played a few Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne maps at his house. WOW! They were great! I couldn't stand having the game without the expansion! So, I got my allowance, and bought the expansion!

I recommend this to anyone who likes RTSes (real-time strategies) or even people who DISlike them, because the game could be called an "Action\Adventure Role-Playing Strategy Sports Driving Sim" or something! It's a multi-genre!

good stuff
this is definatly a good expansion set, just like the regular Warcraft3 itself. if you beat the first one, i suggest you buy this. graphics improved, more gameplay, and more fun. online action is great, including 1 new hero per race. i love this game and so does everyone i know who owns it.

1 year of frozenthrone playing and im not yet tired of it
Alright people that think this game is boring and it should have a Naga race and a Drenei race is stupid. I mean it would be pretty fun, but it would take lots of balancing and stuff so...no. Humans, nighrelves, undead, and orc are enough and the game is fun enough with out those other 2 races. I mean u can still play as adrenei or naga in the single player...and even on custom games...i was playing open rpg islands and i was a naga and i was swimmin anround shootin things with the naga seaweitch. The game really isnt that hard to play when u get used to it. Heros make everythign so intense and exciting which is why when ur fighting the enemy you really should take out the hero then work on the units.

The thing that i kinda hate about warcraft frozen throne and warcraft roc is the blademaster...cheap crap. he just got cheaper in this patch i mean now he can run through my units. Im always undead...and if youve been undead race u know what im talking about. Death to that dam blademaster. BUT finaly, they just got 2 new heros in a patch a alchemist and a firelord. I am very impressed with the alchemist he can take on the bladeamster pretty well.Anyways, people been saying how starcraft is better then warcraft and im like why? they say because its too shiney. I'm like ok...period over gotta go to enxt epriod...get this game ur kids will liek it buy it!! wee!!!!!!!!!!!Sinferno rulez!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00008ODBQ
Sales Rank: 195
Subjects: 1. Computer Games 2. Action 3. Adventure 4. Strategy (Strategic) 5. Fantasy 6. Macintosh (Machintosh) 7. Mac 8. Apple 9. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, crpg, crpgs, rpg, rpgs) 10. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs) 11. Havas

$19.99